If your pet had a medical or surgical emergency, would you be able to pay for it? Veterinary emergency care can be very costly and most emergency hospitals require payment up front. Lack of sufficient funds can leave an owner faced with euthanasia for a beloved companion. The Veterinary Emergency Funding Mission (VEFM) wants to help locate these funds. Through the assistance of generous supporters, we can meet that goal. (We are a 501C3, nonprofit organization.)

OUR MISSION

1- ... that no pet owner be forced to choose inadequate treatment or euthanasia for their animal because of inability to pay for emergency medical care.2- ... that people who receive financial help for a veterinary emergency be given the opportunity to return their gift by becoming mentors, by volunteering for VEFM, or by supporting the VEFM fund financially.3- ... that it is the responsibility of both the local pet-owning and veterinary communities to make emergency care available--that this is not a national responsibility but a grass-roots responsibility.4-... that the vision of VEFM will extend to communities all across the United States, possibly even the world.

Friday, April 2, 2010

Admittedly, much of the discussions in the past 2 months have been about the Pet Fair fundraiser on Cape Cod. However, there is a specific plan for what VEFM needs, as far as non-local supporters go. The closer we get to having a fully-functional unit in southeastern Mass., the closer we get to starting sister-organizations in other locations. As I have mentioned before, we are establishing VEFM first in SE Mass., so that we can use it as a template for other communities. The long-range goal is to have community-based VEFM groups all across the United States, possibly even the world.

Therefore, I am asking all of our supporters to do some soul-searching and schedule-searching and see if you can help make a commitment to this goal. If you are enthusiastic about our project and want to "get your hands dirty," the next few months are going to be spent establishing a few core groups in parts of the country where the next VEFM unit will go. If you would like to be part of this important stage of VEFM's development, join our Facebook group, called VEFM Volunteer Action Group: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=177991216736

What each of you can do, individually, is to assess the situation in your own area. Are pet owners struggling to care for their pets? Do you have emergency hospitals nearby? What happens if an owner goes to one of them and does not have the ability to pay for care immediately?

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OUR START-UP PHASE

We are estimating that need to have at least $10,000 in readily-available funds to begin helping our first patient (and owner). We established this number out of the realization that it would be foolish to help one person and then have to wait several months before we can help another. When we do finally start helping, we want to be able to continue to do so, steadily and securely.PLEASE VISIT OUR WEB SITE AT http://www.vefm.org

ABOUT OUR FOUNDER

During almost 30 years as a practicing small animal veterinarian, with over 10 of those years being involved in emergency and critical care, Dr. Lucy Pinkston Schroth has been struck by how often people cannot afford adequate emergency care for their pets. In the most recent mortgage and credit crisis, the situation has become even more critical. Dr. Schroth decided that the best answer is to set up an non-profit organization that allows people both to receive and then to give back. The idea grew out of the cornerstone principle upon which an inspiring organization, Heifer International, is based. They call it "passing on the gift." (http://www.heifer.org/)Dr. Schroth obtained her DVM degree from Cornell University's school of veterinary medicine, under her maiden name Lucy Pinkston. Before attending Cornell, she graduated from Oberlin College, in Ohio, with a bachelor's degree in chemistry. She has been passionate about helping animals, ever since, as a child, she rescued an injured turtle and spent the summer nursing it back to health. She also has had a lifelong interest in animal behavior and dog training. Dr. Schroth married her husband Donald Schroth in 2002. Don is a gifted bass/baritone singer and is an ordained minister. His special love is Southern Gospel music. Don, who is experienced in video production, retail management, and internet commerce, handles the management of VEFM, while Lucy acts as medical director.

EXAMPLES OF HIGH-COST MEDICAL EMERGENCIES

* Beagle who fell down the stairs and fractured his elbow in several places. Total cost: ~$3,500. * Diabetic cat on insulin, but went into remission before owners realized it. Presented to emergency hospital in seizures from low blood sugar. Total cost: ~$1,500. * Cat who ate 18 inches of dental floss, which got trapped in his intestines and required emergency surgery, which included removal of 6 inches of small intestine. Total cost: ~$4,000.* Yorkshire terrier, on-leash, who was attacked by a large dog who was not leashed. The small dog did not survive, even after surgery, and the large dog's owner could not be located. Total cost: ~$10,000.

Making Donations

Our Non-Profit Status:We have been approved by the IRS as a 501C3 organization, so donations are tax-deductible according to IRS tax regulations. A copy of our IRS approval letter is available for review at our web site: www.vefm.org